Insurgent attack on Syrian airbase kills 56 soldiers

Al Nusra Front fighters seize Abu al-Duhur military base in Idlib province, in a major victory for the insurgents, reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Deborah Gembara reports.

▲ Hide Transcript

▶ View Transcript

***THIS STORY CONTAINS USER GENERATED CONTENT THAT WAS UPLOADED TO A SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED BY REUTERS' SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM AND REVIEWED BY A SENIOR EDITOR. REUTERS IS CONFIDENT THE EVENTS PORTRAYED ARE GENUINE.***
Insurgents are now in control of Abu al-Duhur military base in northwestern Syria after killing at least 56 government soldiers in an early morning attack.
Fighters from al Nusra Front, which is an offshoot of al Qaeda, could be seen exploring the facility on Tuesday. Some climbed onto aircraft while others examined weapons, according to this latest video posted to a social media website.
Dozens of soldiers have not been accounted for and as many as 40 are believed to have been taken captive, reported the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
Capturing Abu al-Duhur -- and with it, dozens of President Bashar al Assad's fighter jets and rocket launchers -- is a major victory for insurgents, who have made steady gains in Idlib province since May.
Syrian military officials aren't confirming reports they've lost the base -- saying only that they've evacuated the area.